Barona fire captain suspended

San Diego  A Barona fire agency captain who was arrested this week on child molestation charges has been suspended while the case continues, a tribal official said Saturday.

Raul Licon Jr., 38, of the Barona Fire Protection District was arrested Thursday. He was accused of having sex with a minor, sheriff’s officials said.

Sheilla Alvarez, director of governmental affairs for the tribe, said in a statement that the tribe is very concerned about the allegations against Licon. She said he has been suspended without pay and said the tribe would not comment further.

Licon was arrested at his home in San Marcos on Thursday. He was charged with six counts of child molestation, including lewd and lascivious acts on a child 14 or 15 years old.

A sheriff's official said the molestation occurred over a period of time and that the victim just recently came forward. He declined to say whether the victim was a boy or girl.

Licon posted bail of $250,000 and was released Thursday. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 8, a District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman said.